Nchoke Autonomous Community in Ideato South council of Imo State has budgeted Fifty Million Naira to empower 2000 youths of the area with entrepreneurial skills and opportunities.
The youths, selected from the seven villages that made up of the community, according to the organizers of the scheme termed, “Nchoke Skills Acquisition Initiative”, would be trained on various economic oriented skills, including fashion design, hair dressing and barbing, capentary and furniture, computer and mobile phones repairs.
Other skills are event planning and decoration, laundry and dry cleaning, catering, music production, auto mechanic, electrical technician, video coverage and film production, solar installation, among others.
Speaking to newsmen at the official launch of the humanitarian gesture, on Tuesday, the sponsors, Dr. Azubuike Erinugha and Mr. John Durumba said the programme was initiated to help curb social vices, reduce unemployment rate among the youths of the community by equipping them with necessary skills that would enable them contribute significantly to the overall growth and development of the area.
They further disclosed that the participants would be presented with several equipment to facilitate their success upon completion of the trainings, which would be organized periodically.
Erinugha said, “Nchoke Skills Acquisition Initiative is a scheme to essentially create greater awareness on entrepreneurship and potential career opportunities for the participants.
“The mandate therefore is to recruit and register participants; organize hand-on sessions with the intent to expose them to skills and entrepreneurial opportunities. These skills are hopeful to build potential careers and other self-development tools towards youth empowerment.”
“Nchoke Skills Acquisition Initiative has plans to continue in providing skills opportunities for our youths. Apart from learning new skills that could help them set up future business models, the programme will definitely keep them focused, disciplined and form a solid distraction away from crimes, vices, and other destructive peer pressure influences. The Initiative could not have come at a better time.” Durumba added.
Chief Dr. Fidelity Ezewike, Chairman, Chief Joachim Olumba, Keynote Speaker, HRH Eze Christopher Obieshi, monarch of the community, Chief Barr. Tony Duruzo, President General of Ncheko Community, Mrs. Clara Duru, Programme Manager, Mr. Chigozie Ibeke, General Secretary of Nchoke Community, Chief Austin Awujor, renowned Nollywood Actor, among other guests who spoke at the event applauded the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity to better their lots and that of their respective families and the community at large.
“There is nothing you can have that is more meaningful and enduring than a skill. It is as important as life. Even with your education, there is something missing, that is momumental, if you don’t have a skill. It is important that everyone should acquire skill for self growth and survival.” Olumba said.
Also, some of participants, Chidera Uzoma, Chioma Alinor, Chidinma Vincent, Deborah Opara and Daniel Duru expressed joy over the initiative and thanked the organisers for the gesture, with promises that they would not disappoint on the goals and objectives of the initiative.
Guardian